Am I Actually Employable?
July 23, 2015 1:34 PM Subscribe
I got a Masters in Entomology in May of 2014 and I've been looking for a job doing...pretty much anything in science since then. After a pretty crushing rejection earlier this month from a position I thought I'd get, I'm starting to wonder - am I even employable anymore? Snowflake details below the fold.
My research background is in mosquitoes but has a lot of molecular biology and biochemistry associated with it. Because funding in my lab was scarce in grad school, I ended up working part-time through it and it took me much longer than normal to get my Masters. Furthermore, my project wasn't successful (we realized in the end that the experiments just wouldn't work), and there wasn't enough salvageable data to construct a paper out of it.
Since then, I've been searching and searching for jobs to no avail - I just can't get interviews. I've tried entomology jobs, mosquito-based or otherwise - no luck. I've tried industry jobs outside of entomology, but still within my genetics and molecular biology expertise - no luck. I've tried lab tech positions, research associate positions, entry-level positions, positions that require a Masters, government positions, private positions, university positions, staffing agencies, working with the Career Center from my grad school, you name it - nothing. I'm getting interviews at a rate of maybe one every three months at this point.
My questions right now are:
1) What am I doing wrong? I'm putting in job applications and trying to find people to cold call via LinkedIn, but that's apparently not enough. I'd be happy to provide a copy of my resume and cover letter skeleton upon request.
2) What are my options? I feel like if I go much longer without a job in science, "You've been out of the field too long" will start to become a legitimate strike against me.
3) What are good, free resources for job seekers down and out on their luck?
My research background is in mosquitoes but has a lot of molecular biology and biochemistry associated with it. Because funding in my lab was scarce in grad school, I ended up working part-time through it and it took me much longer than normal to get my Masters. Furthermore, my project wasn't successful (we realized in the end that the experiments just wouldn't work), and there wasn't enough salvageable data to construct a paper out of it.
Since then, I've been searching and searching for jobs to no avail - I just can't get interviews. I've tried entomology jobs, mosquito-based or otherwise - no luck. I've tried industry jobs outside of entomology, but still within my genetics and molecular biology expertise - no luck. I've tried lab tech positions, research associate positions, entry-level positions, positions that require a Masters, government positions, private positions, university positions, staffing agencies, working with the Career Center from my grad school, you name it - nothing. I'm getting interviews at a rate of maybe one every three months at this point.
My questions right now are:
1) What am I doing wrong? I'm putting in job applications and trying to find people to cold call via LinkedIn, but that's apparently not enough. I'd be happy to provide a copy of my resume and cover letter skeleton upon request.
2) What are my options? I feel like if I go much longer without a job in science, "You've been out of the field too long" will start to become a legitimate strike against me.
3) What are good, free resources for job seekers down and out on their luck?
Do you live in an area with a large mosquito population? Have you looked with your state and local governments if they have any positions in mosquito control? (Not the as one of the folks who do the spraying, of course.)
posted by SansPoint at 1:56 PM on July 23, 2015
posted by SansPoint at 1:56 PM on July 23, 2015
I was also going to suggest looking into government. (federal). Maybe try to find a job you're qualified for, even if it's not in your field. Then after securing that, keep looking sideways and then look up.
My son, a chemist, had this problem. He took a lab job and 20 years later is managing his own lab for his state.
posted by donaken at 2:32 PM on July 23, 2015
My son, a chemist, had this problem. He took a lab job and 20 years later is managing his own lab for his state.
posted by donaken at 2:32 PM on July 23, 2015
Have you been published at all? No papers + long Masters may be getting you side-eye. Do you know if you could go back to your old PI and at least write a review or something?
posted by Anonymous at 2:58 PM on July 23, 2015
posted by Anonymous at 2:58 PM on July 23, 2015
Best answer: Long MSc and no papers (not even co-author? Most people will have their names in at least a couple of papers from a MSc involving molbiol/biochem) are definitely hampering your passing the initial screen.
I'd have one sentence in the summary section (first section after your name and stuff) explaining that the MSc was done part-time.
Depending on where you are, there should be research hospitals or cancer center or something. These kinds of places hire MScs, and having molbiol biochem experience qualifies you for working with cancer and genetic diseases as a research tech. Research associate if you're lucky/good.
Or cold call PIs and see if anyone will hire you on as a lab manager/research associate.
You might have to look around to other cities which might have more of these kinds of University-associated organizations.
Hey, at least you didn't do a PhD, which would have worsened your job prospects even more.
If you can swing it, perhaps get a certification in one of the Allied Health Professions. Depending on where you are and what program, it may be a year to two years of additional schooling, with tuition being dependent on where you are and what program. This would make you much more employable as a non-research hospital/clinic tech.
Feel free to memail me, if I knew more specifics (what techniques you're familiar with, what's your location and whether you're open to moving) I might be able to come up with more concrete suggestions. I'd be happy to look over your resume, too.
posted by porpoise at 3:46 PM on July 23, 2015
I'd have one sentence in the summary section (first section after your name and stuff) explaining that the MSc was done part-time.
Depending on where you are, there should be research hospitals or cancer center or something. These kinds of places hire MScs, and having molbiol biochem experience qualifies you for working with cancer and genetic diseases as a research tech. Research associate if you're lucky/good.
Or cold call PIs and see if anyone will hire you on as a lab manager/research associate.
You might have to look around to other cities which might have more of these kinds of University-associated organizations.
Hey, at least you didn't do a PhD, which would have worsened your job prospects even more.
If you can swing it, perhaps get a certification in one of the Allied Health Professions. Depending on where you are and what program, it may be a year to two years of additional schooling, with tuition being dependent on where you are and what program. This would make you much more employable as a non-research hospital/clinic tech.
Feel free to memail me, if I knew more specifics (what techniques you're familiar with, what's your location and whether you're open to moving) I might be able to come up with more concrete suggestions. I'd be happy to look over your resume, too.
posted by porpoise at 3:46 PM on July 23, 2015
If you really love entomology go back to school and get a PhD! If you're not tied to your location look for programs elsewhere. You could also consider the Peace Corps.
posted by mareli at 3:46 PM on July 23, 2015
posted by mareli at 3:46 PM on July 23, 2015
Response by poster: Hi folks, thanks for the responses. To answer some questions:
1) I'm listed as a contributing author on a paper written by a post-doc in my lab, and have two poster presentations to my name, but my actual thesis was not published. All of the presentations and the paper are on my resume.
2) I live in the SF Bay Area. The counties here are generally serious about mosquito control but job openings for actual entomologists have been few and far between. Most of my government applications have been to federal agencies, in particular the USDA (my work has applications in pesticide resistance).
3) I'm open to relocating pretty much anywhere inside of the US. Leaving the Bay Area would be nice, actually, given the cost of living here is so high, but if I can land a position that pays reasonably well I'd be fine with staying.
posted by Noms_Tiem at 4:23 PM on July 23, 2015
1) I'm listed as a contributing author on a paper written by a post-doc in my lab, and have two poster presentations to my name, but my actual thesis was not published. All of the presentations and the paper are on my resume.
2) I live in the SF Bay Area. The counties here are generally serious about mosquito control but job openings for actual entomologists have been few and far between. Most of my government applications have been to federal agencies, in particular the USDA (my work has applications in pesticide resistance).
3) I'm open to relocating pretty much anywhere inside of the US. Leaving the Bay Area would be nice, actually, given the cost of living here is so high, but if I can land a position that pays reasonably well I'd be fine with staying.
posted by Noms_Tiem at 4:23 PM on July 23, 2015
I'm guessing you've already tried the MSMVCD, but I'll give them a little shout-out anyway
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:30 PM on July 23, 2015
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:30 PM on July 23, 2015
I would try to get a PhD. Especially with a scholarship of some sort. I recommend this lab.
posted by dhruva at 4:53 PM on July 23, 2015
posted by dhruva at 4:53 PM on July 23, 2015
Have you asked all your comitttee members for helped landing a position like once a month?
posted by Kalmya at 5:10 PM on July 23, 2015
posted by Kalmya at 5:10 PM on July 23, 2015
Best answer: Do you check this listing regularly?
Have you cold-emailed every mosquito lab possible? Asking either for a technician gig or if they'd have space for a grad student?
posted by Cold Lurkey at 5:49 PM on July 23, 2015
Have you cold-emailed every mosquito lab possible? Asking either for a technician gig or if they'd have space for a grad student?
posted by Cold Lurkey at 5:49 PM on July 23, 2015
It's hard for me to recommend someone relocate from the Bay Area to South Florida, but holy heck do we have the mosquitoes. And they're transmitting tropical diseases, so people are pretty serious about controlling them. These folks might have some resources.
posted by Daily Alice at 9:01 PM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Daily Alice at 9:01 PM on July 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
The USPTO outsources a lot of its patent classification and search work to contractors. Here's one example.
If you can tolerate long periods of sitting behind a desk (not to mention a move to Virginia), it might end up opening other career pathways for you in the long run, especially in the private sector.
posted by invisible ink at 9:35 PM on July 23, 2015
If you can tolerate long periods of sitting behind a desk (not to mention a move to Virginia), it might end up opening other career pathways for you in the long run, especially in the private sector.
posted by invisible ink at 9:35 PM on July 23, 2015
It can take a *really* long time to find a job in science. I graduated with my BS in biology around the same time as you and wasn't able to get a job until a few months ago (and that's while considering the majority of biotech jobs go to BSc (or so I heard)). During that time period I thought I was unemployable and was seriously stressing out about it. I was agonizing over all the perceived flaws my resume--huge gaps in employment, all of my science jobs were just little part time things no more than a year long, I was already 27 and had only just got my BS, all my experience was par for the course (pcr, gel runs, western blots... really basic stuff). Another one of my friends who graduated in 2013 took over a year to find relevant work. One of the girls at my work has been looking for a new job so that she can move to a different state and that's also taking her forever.So, don't be discouraged. It can just take a really, really long time, and it's understandable.
Have you tried using temp agencies like Kelly Scientific or Lab Support? They're good for getting your foot in the door. In the end that's how I got my current job and what most of my science friends have used at the start of their careers.
posted by picklenickle at 9:54 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Have you tried using temp agencies like Kelly Scientific or Lab Support? They're good for getting your foot in the door. In the end that's how I got my current job and what most of my science friends have used at the start of their careers.
posted by picklenickle at 9:54 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
picklenickle - re: "majority of biotech jobs go to BSc"
Yes. Fresh undergrads are plentiful and, as you've seen through your job hunting experiences, "cheap."
Good companies that hire life sciences BScs will want to groom them and give them training and education such that they are at least competent technologists. A BSc "tech" 5 years down the line after you're training/grooming them is going to cost 2/3rds that of a MSc who checks the boxes but who's actual capabilities are an unknown. The thinking is that the 5 year BSc can do the work for you, whereas the MSc might/should/ought to be able to the work for you AND help drive/improve research.
That 5 year BSc tech 1 times out of 5 eats that new MSc. 1 time out of 50, that tech helps the MSc become a good supporting researcher (depends on venue). 3/10 of the MSc tech is ok. The rest of the time, the MSc pisses off that 5 year tech.
Things are much more sane and rational if there are good bosses. With clueless shit managers - above scenario, or worse.
With grade inflation (and conversely, if you can, impress people who you might want a let'o'rec ["a letter" for the shibboleth] from, some day), hiring BScs is a total gamble. We'd love to have someone who's competent, but managers in good companies encourage the good'uns to go get a MSc which opens up their opportunities*. If your university has a co-op program (work placement/internship hiatus before finishing last half/final year of a BSc), I'd highly recommend doing that unless you're certain of an academic research career (which is, frankly, stupid at that point in one's education). Not only does it allow for some networking, but also opens eyes as to what one might want and what one might NOT want in a career.
*telling the people who may benefit from a MSc that they may benefit from a MSc is a net negative to the company. However, the person recommending the course of action may move on to other companies before you've gotten the MSc and looking for a job. Once you do, the person(s) who extolled a MSc for you might then be in a position for hiring good'uns for themselves. Networking. Keep in touch with people who seem interested in your growth.
posted by porpoise at 11:06 PM on July 24, 2015
Yes. Fresh undergrads are plentiful and, as you've seen through your job hunting experiences, "cheap."
Good companies that hire life sciences BScs will want to groom them and give them training and education such that they are at least competent technologists. A BSc "tech" 5 years down the line after you're training/grooming them is going to cost 2/3rds that of a MSc who checks the boxes but who's actual capabilities are an unknown. The thinking is that the 5 year BSc can do the work for you, whereas the MSc might/should/ought to be able to the work for you AND help drive/improve research.
That 5 year BSc tech 1 times out of 5 eats that new MSc. 1 time out of 50, that tech helps the MSc become a good supporting researcher (depends on venue). 3/10 of the MSc tech is ok. The rest of the time, the MSc pisses off that 5 year tech.
Things are much more sane and rational if there are good bosses. With clueless shit managers - above scenario, or worse.
With grade inflation (and conversely, if you can, impress people who you might want a let'o'rec ["a letter" for the shibboleth] from, some day), hiring BScs is a total gamble. We'd love to have someone who's competent, but managers in good companies encourage the good'uns to go get a MSc which opens up their opportunities*. If your university has a co-op program (work placement/internship hiatus before finishing last half/final year of a BSc), I'd highly recommend doing that unless you're certain of an academic research career (which is, frankly, stupid at that point in one's education). Not only does it allow for some networking, but also opens eyes as to what one might want and what one might NOT want in a career.
*telling the people who may benefit from a MSc that they may benefit from a MSc is a net negative to the company. However, the person recommending the course of action may move on to other companies before you've gotten the MSc and looking for a job. Once you do, the person(s) who extolled a MSc for you might then be in a position for hiring good'uns for themselves. Networking. Keep in touch with people who seem interested in your growth.
posted by porpoise at 11:06 PM on July 24, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by notned at 1:55 PM on July 23, 2015